Comb



T. R. C B

May 1940 OMB Filed 15 1939 NVENTOR,

Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED srarss TENT: OFFICE Application August 15,

2 Claims.

This invention aims to provide novel comb structure whereby, when the teeth of the comb are removed from the back thereof, the teeth may be opened with respect to each other, to facilitate cleaning.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows, in side elevation, a comb constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a perspective showing several teeth of the comb, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the teeth of the comb opened;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is a. section on the line 65 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective showing a further modification;

Fig. 8 is an elevation showing another modification.

In carrying out the invention, as disclosed in Figs. 1 to i, there is provided a trough-shaped back I having end walls 2 and side walls 3, the side walls diverging slightly at their lower edges, to facilitate the insertion of the teeth into the back, the diverging portions of the side walls being designated by the numeral 4.

Teeth 5 are provided, and have laterally extended heads 6, provided with alined openings l, through which extends a resilient strip 8, pref- 45 erably made of metal. Securing elements 9 are mounted in the ends of the heads 6 and pass through the strip 8.

When the teeth 5 are removed from the back I, the resilient strip 8 may be bowed, as shown in 50 Fig. 3, to separate the teeth 5, and to facilitate the cleaning thereof.

In Figs. 5 and 6, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used,

1939, Serial No. 290,327

with the suffix a. In this form of the invention, the strip 30. does not pass through openings, such as the openings 1 of Fig. 2, but is placed on the ends of the heads 6a. Considered transversely,

, the heads 60; are of concavo-convex form, as

shown at H, so that the heads of the teeth are 5 provided with longitudinal rib and groove elements which interfit. In the form shown in Fig. 3, the heads 5 of the teeth 5 are beveled as at H], to form V-shaped notches between the heads of the teeth, the opening of the teeth thus being facilitated. In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6, that beveling is not necessary, since the strip 8a is on the ends of the heads 6a.

In Fig. '7, parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals already used, with the sufiix b. The strip 3b is on the ends of the heads (5b, as in Figs. 5 and 6. Each tooth head 6b has, on one side, a longitudinal, V-shaped. rib l2,

. adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped recess It in the next tooth head.

Owing to the fact that the resilient strip, such as the strip 8, is of unequal transverse dimension, the teeth, when removed from the back I, will not tend to swing crosswise of the strip, but will remain in the same plane when opened. The teeth, therefore, can be cleaned readily by inserting any suitable instrument between them.

The teeth may be T-shaped as shown at 50 in Fig. 8, and then no specially shaped end teeth are required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A comb comprising a back,'and a tooth assembly detachably mounted in the back, the tooth assembly comprising a plurality of teeth, and a flexible strip secured to the butt ends of the teeth, to permit the working ends of the teeth to open easily and to a maximum extent, with the strip as an exposed, terminal hinge, and without contacting and resisting pressure at the butt ends of the teeth, when the teeth are removed from the back.

2. A comb constructed as set forth in claim 1, and wherein each tooth has, adjacent to its butt end, a longitudinal groove element on one side, and a longitudinal rib element on the opposite side, the rib element of each tooth fitting into the groove element of an adjoining tooth, to ofiset the instability resulting from the mounting of the strip on the butt ends of the teeth. 50

THOMAS ROCKS COBB. 

